Adjustable support for chair-backs.



PATENTED APR. 7, 1903.

J. LUPPINO. ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR. CHAIR BACKS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

ms FE UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

-JOS'EPH TJUPPINO, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR CHAIR-BACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,901, dated April '7, 1903.

I Application filed September 15, 1902. Serial No. 123,476. (No model.)

To all whom it ntrty concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LUPPINO, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Supports for Chair-Backs; and I do hereby declarethe following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side View of a chair having my improved adjusting device applied thereto; Fig. 2, an enlarged side View of the locking brace and block; Fig. 3, a View of similar parts with the brace in its extreme forward position; Fig. 4, a top or plan view of the adjusting device; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the forward end of the brace.

This invention relates to an improvement in adjusting devices for chair-backs, and particularly a device for adjusting the inclination of the backs in chairs of the Morris type,

the object of the invention being to arrange a single device in line with the center of a chair by which the back may be adjusted, which is in a sense automatic; and the invention consists in the construction hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

The back A is pivoted to the chair-frame B above the seat and extends below itinstead of being hinged in line therewith, as in the more general construction of chairs. Secured to the center of a transverse bar C at the lower end of the back is abracket D, to which a brace E is pivoted. This brace extends forward toward the front of the chair and is formed in its lower edge with notches a, b, c, and d, more or less in number, and with a stud F,which projects outward from oneside. Secured to the inside of the front G of the chair is a block H, formed with flanges I for convenient attachment to the said front G, and formed at its rear end with a flange J, the forward edge of which is recessed, forming a clearance-notch K. In the side of the block is a staple L,through which the brace E passes and with the lower leg of which the notches on the brace engage. Also pivoted to the block line with the forward rounded corner e of the notch K and is formed with a slot 0, which permits the switch to set over a pin P, project-ing outward from the block H, this pin limiting the downward movement of the switch-plate and so that when in its lowest position the rear edge of the flange N is in line with the bottom of the notch K. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the notch a of the brace E is engaged with the staple L and the back of the chair is in a substantially upright position. :At this time the stud F is near the rear end of the flange N of the switch M and that switch has 'been raised by the said stud which is in line with the bottom of the notch K. To adjust the back, its upper end is moved slightly forward, which draws the lower end rearward and moves the brace back and so that the stud F passes from beneath the flange N of the switch M and riding over the rounded edge e enters the notch K. As the stud passes into the notch K the switch drops, and as the back of the chair inclines rearward the brace moves forward and the stud F rides upon the upper face of the flange N of the switch Maud holds the notches out of engagement with the staple L. When the stud drops over the forward end of the flange, the brace drops downward onto the lower leg of the staple L and so that the notches will engage therewith, the notches being so inclined that the brace may be readily moved rearward over the staple, but cannot be moved forward. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the notch d is engaged with the staple and the back is therefore held in its extreme inclined position. As the back is raised the successive notches c, b, and a will engage with the staple according to the position in which it is desired that the back of the chair should stand.

It is apparent that instead of the staple L a pin corresponding to the lower leg thereof may project outward from the block H and with which the brace E may engage and also that the slot 0 and pin P may be omitted, as the rear end of the switch may rest upon the bottom of the notch K when in its lower position and be stopped by the upper leg of the staple against being raised too high, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the exactdetails shown.

While I have shown and described my attachment as applied to a Morris chair, it will be clearly apparent without further illustration or description that it may be employed as an adjusting device for the heads and sides of couches, &c.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An adjustable support consisting of a brace having notches in its lower edge and a stud projecting outwardly from one side, a block havingan outwardly-projectingpin with which said notches engage, said block provided at its rear end with an upwardly-inclined recess into which said stud may pass, and a switch pivoted to said block and having a flange upon which said stud may ride to hold the brace out of engagement with the pin.

2. The combination with a chair having a back pivoted above the seat and extending below it, of a brace pivoted to said extension, said brace formed with notches in its lower edge and with a stud projecting outwardly from one side, a block secured to the front of the chair, a pin in said block with which the notches of the brace may engage, the block provided with an upwardly-inclined recess at its rear into which the stud may be lifted, and a switch pivoted to said block and formed with a flange upon which the said stud may ride to hold the notches of the brace out of engagement with the pin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnessesi JOSEPH LUPPINO.

\Vitnesses:

FREDERIo O. EARLE, CLARA L. WEED. 

